INVESTIGATION OF BIOMASS BRIQUETTES AS ENERGY SOURCES THROUGH THEIR CALORIFIC VALUES IN RELATION TO THEIR TOTAL CARBON/HYDROGEN CONTENT FOR EFFICIENT BIOFUEL UTILIZATION
INVESTIGATION OF BIOMASS BRIQUETTES AS ENERGY SOURCES THROUGH THEIR CALORIFIC VALUES IN RELATION TO THEIR TOTAL CARBON/HYDROGEN CONTENT FOR EFFICIENT BIOFUEL UTILIZATION
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Date
2012-11
Authors
ISMAILA, AMINU
Journal Title
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The relationship between the high heating values (HHVs) and total hydrogen and carbon
contents of fourteen (14) selected biomass briquettes in terms of grain size, pressure and
binders is studied. Analyses of the experimental results show that the high heating values
of the biomass tested are not linearly related to their total hydrogen contents but directly
related to their total Carbon contents. Comparison of the measured and calculated HHVs of
the biomass samples reveal that the calculated measurement of the HHVs compared well
with that of the American Standard of Testing Materials (ASTM) results and also in
agreement with the widely reported values in the acceptable range of 17-21MJ/kg. The
investigation of the effect of particle size and added binder in the biofuel preparation
indicates that finely ground particles (about 125μm) had low calorific values as the
grinding resulted in a loss of some heat and made the sample vulnerable to air oxidation
while addition of Poly Vinyl Cloride (PVC) dissolved in toluene organic binder tend to
decerease the HHVs to about half the original values for the range of biomass tested.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page………...………………………………………………………………………….…i
Declaration……………………………………………………………..……………….……iii
Certification…………………….…………………………………………………………….iv
Dedication.……………………….……………………………………………………..……..ii
Acknowledgements …………..….……….………………………….….…………….……...v
Abstract.………………………….………………………………….……………………….vi
Table of contents ……………...…………….………………………………………………vii
List of Tables………………………………..……….…………….………….……………...xi
List of Figures………………………………………….…………...…….……..….................x
List of Appendices and Plates…………………………………...…………………...…..…xii
Nomenclature ………………………………….………………….…………….…...……..xiii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION………………...………………………….…..............1.0
1.1 Statement of Research Problem ……………………………………….……….….…....4.0
1.2 Aims and Objectives………..…………………………………….………………….….5.0
1.3 Justification………………...………………….….….…………………………….…....5.0
1.4 Research Scope…………………….…..........................................................................6.0
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LTERATUTRE REVIEW………………………..…………………………...…........7.0
2.1 The Calorific Value or Heating Value…………………………….…….……..…...........12
2.2 Biomass Types……………………………………………………………….….............14
2.3 Plant Characteistics……………………………...…………….…...................................16
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2.4 Hydrogen as Fuel/Hydrogen Economy……………………………………………...…17
2.5 Theoretical Aspects of Neutron Reflection Technique……………...…………………19
2. 5.1 General.………………………………………………………………..………….……19
2.6 The Neutron………………………………………………………………….……..….20
2.6.1 Neutron Energy Classification………………………………………...…..………....21
2.7 Neutron Sources…………………………………………………………..…….……..22
2.7.1 Isotopic Neutron Sources (ISNS)………………………………………..…..…….....22
2.7.1.1 Alpha ( ,n )………………….……………………………………….………….....22
2.7.1.2 Photo-Neutron ( ,n ) Sources (PNS)…………………………………….................23
2.7.1.3 Spontaneous Fission Sources (SFS)…………………………………………….......24
2.7.2 Neutron Generators (NG)……………………………………………………..............24
2.7.3 Nuclear Reactors (NR)………………………………………………………...…..…..25
2.8 Theory of Neutron Thermalization…………………….………………………….......26
2.8.1 Interaction of Neutron with Matter……………….…………………...……………..27
2.8.2 Neutron Detection………………………………………………………….................30
2.8.3 The Concept of Neutron Reflection………………………………………………......31
2.8.4 Neutron Reflection Property (Albed…………...…………………………..................33
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Methodology…………….……….………...……………………………..….35
3.1 Sampling of Biomass Materials..................................................………………….…..35
3.2 Analytical Procedure Using Bomb Calorimeter……….…..………………………...…35
3.2.1 Sample Preparation………………………………………..…………………………..35
3.2.2 Experimental Set-up for the Bomb Measurement……...…….………………………..36
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3.2.3 Analysis Procedures for the Bomb Measurement……………………………………..38
3.3: Analytical Procedure Using Neutron Reflection Set up………….……………………40
3.3.1 Sample Preparation………………………………………………….…………………42
3.3.2 Experimental Arrangement for the Determination of H Using n- Reflection
Technique……………………………………………………………………………………..42
3.3.2.1 The 3He Neutron Probe……………………………………………………...………..43
3.3.2.2 Electronic Counting Set-up…………………………………………………….……..44
3.3.2.3 Analysis Procedure…………………………………………………………………...45
3.4 Density Measurement ……………………..……………………………………...……47
3.5 Determination of Nitrogen Sulphur and Carbon……………………………...…….…..47
3.5.1 Determination of Nitrogen by Kjeldahl Method……………………………………..…48
3.5.2 Determination of Sulphur……………………………………………………………...49
3.5.3 Determination of Carbon Content…………………………………………………...….49
3.6 Determination of Ash Content…………………………………………………………...50
3.7 The Use of Empirical Equations to Estimates HHVs……………..…………………..…
Description
A THESIS REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) IN PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
Keywords
INVESTIGATION, BIOMASS BRIQUETTES, ENERGY SOURCES, CALORIFIC VALUES, RELATION, CARBON/HYDROGEN CONTENT, EFFICIENT, BIOFUEL UTILIZATION